Kelly Clarkson's National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVI: How Did She Do?

Things might get a little awkward on the set of The Voice come Monday morning — especially if Kelly Clarkson bumps into Christina Aguilera at the craft services table.

Clarkson — inaugural American Idol champ, current pop superstar, and recently announced adviser to Voice judge Blake Shelton — just finishedkilling it delivering the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. Voice mentor Aguilera, meanwhile, pretty much murdered “The Star Spangled Banner” (and not in a good way) with a botched lyric and a histrionic delivery a year ago (at Super Bowl XLV).

But hey…let’s not dwell on the tawdry past. (Xtina, after all, gave us “Beautiful,” “Dirrty,” “Ain’t No Other Man,” and Beverly McClellan — all of which we are thankful for.)

Clarkson, dressed in a simple black boat-neck dress (and rocking some dark and stylish bangs), proved a sublime choice to deliver the National Anthem at the start of the New York Giants-New England Patriots showdown. Backed by a chorus of adorable grade-schoolers, Clarkson showed blessed restraint, took just a few interesting liberties with the melody, and delivered a performance that was heartfelt, respectful, and chock full of power. (Wish they’d shown just a little more of her, though, no?)

What did you think of Clarkson’s “Star Spangled Banner”? Take our poll below, share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TVLine.com all night long for coverage of Super Bowl ads, halftime show, and more!

WHOA EVERYONE!! Kelly Clarkson DID flub Our National Anthem….she sang:whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous SIGHT–WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!! The word she flubbed was “sight”, when she SHOULD have sung PERILOUS FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEBODY should have listened a little closer, as I did,and checked out the exact wording at at least have it on a tele-prompter!! I am ashamed that these Americans can’t get the words to our freedom-anthem, that they should be chosen to sing it in PUBLIC!!!

To be fair to Mary Beth, there is one YouTube post that clearly has Kelly singing “through the perilous SIGHT”…but on closer listening you can hear it’s really background hiss cranked up in volume. Don’t know if it’s intentional by the person that posted it or just a coincidence.
The other seven (!!!) versions I listened to on YouTube had better sound and Kelly DID sing “perilous FIGHT”.

Until a couple of years ago, every Superbowl performance was lip synced. With all the dumb flack singers have been getting recently, why would it surprise anyone that singers go back to lip syncing performances? The children’s choir track was obviously pre-recorded. Also, the cameras were minimizing the amount of Kelly’s screen time. If it was lip synced, it was well done. If you saw a large delay, you must have a bad set-top box or TV.

The choir did NOT sing it live. The children had no microphones. It was actually over 100 children that pre-recorded it weeks before, and only 46 were carefully chosen to stand behind her. The 46 did sing, but no one could hear them. Wish the 100 would get more credit for their participation, but them again the choir was not even introduced. Very poor.

I’ve heard Kelly Clarkson sing the National Anthem a few times before and she always, ALWAYS, nails it. This time was no different, as she sang it beautifully with her powerful voice. She looked beautiful as well, bringing class back to the Super Bowl. Well done Kelly. Now if only they’d get HER to do the half-time show next year…

Flawwless, it proves two things
1 Kelly knows the anthem well enough not to try something different thus giving it the respect and style it should be sung with
2 Whybwe voted for her in the first place oh so many years ago.

She nailed it imo. Not even goona ask what you meant with the craft services table comment, I mean I don’t get stuff like that, what do YOU get out of it? Not everybody looks nor should they look the same, now if I misread you I’m sorry but if I’m correct in my suspicious belief than what I say still stands.